Graphic Design
A Bachelor of Arts concentration that prepares student designers for professional practice — grounded in drawing, art history, and the fine arts, then advancing into computer graphics, advertising art, and computer-aided design.
A foundation for design practice
The Graphic Design concentration prepares student designers for many exciting opportunities. For students interested in professional design practice as a career, the department provides a thorough art and design foundation, including intensive drawing, classes in art history, and introductory experiences in various fine arts media.
Once this core of foundation classes has been completed, students are intellectually and creatively prepared for coursework in computer graphics, advertising art, and computer aided design.
Curriculum & requirements
The Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Graphic Design comprises the following requirements.
43 hours
JSU Core Requirements
81 hours
Major & Concentration Requirements
Art History
12 hours- Art 221 Art History I
- Art 222 Art History II
- Art 223 History of the Moving Image
- Art 337 Non-Western
- Art 338 African American Art
- Art 453 Curatorial Seminar
Foundations
12 hours- Art 102 Design I
- Art 201 Design II
- Art 111 Drawing I
- Art 112 Drawing II
Related Arts
21 hours- Art 202 Design III
- Art 211 Ceramics
- Art 216 Drawing III
- Art 224 Intro to Painting
- Art 232 Intro to Sculpture
- Art 242 Intro to Printmaking
- Art 335 Photography
Concentration
36 hours- Art 210 Visual Thinking
- Art 203 Intro to Computer Graphics
- Art 213 Intro to Graphic Design
- Art 228 Typography
- Art 349 Junior Graphic Design Studio I
- Art 311 Web Design
- Art 327 Sound Design
- Art 351 Junior Graphic Design Studio II
- Art 441 Senior Graphic Design Studio I
- Art 454 Portfolio Development
- Art 430 Graphic Design Internship
- Art 443 Senior Graphic Design Studio II
Professional experience throughout your degree
Students who graduate from this program of study are able to work across a range of media, and are especially adept at the creative process within their chosen concentration. They are well grounded in history and theory, and have had many experiences and opportunities that enable them to practice art. With resources including multiple computer suites, a dark room, an expansive permanent collection and professional art gallery, the Department of Art offers students an opportunity to gain professional experience throughout their undergraduate degree.
Recent news
Exhibitions, announcements, and highlights from the JSU Department of Art.
Fall Exhibitions
September 1, 2024
Mark Geil Appointed as Department Chair
August 14, 2024
Jackson State Senior Show 2024
April 9, 2024
Call for Submissions: 2024 Senior Show
February 12, 2024
Jamea Richmond-Edwards one of “The 12 Must-See Exhibitions” in Miami’s Art Basel
December 1, 2023
Multiplicity
September 27, 2023Instrumental Avatars
September 20, 2023
Celebrating Our Graduates
June 3, 2023
2023 CASE Festival
April 14, 2023
Art & Soul Senior Exhibition
March 18, 2023A Bachelor of Arts grounded in practice
The Department of Art is committed to providing students with a fundamental knowledge of Art, Design, and Art History through our Bachelor of Arts program. We focus on student centered learning that combines research and hands on application.
Source content notes
Editorial Notes
Program text, credit hours, and the full course list are reproduced verbatim from the source. In the source, several course entries ran together without spaces (e.g. “Computer GraphicsArt 213”); these have been separated into distinct courses for readability, with course numbers and titles unchanged. The “Recent news” items, dates, links, and images are reproduced from the source as published; these are time-sensitive and may be updated by the department over time. Source footer reads “Copyright 2023”.
Explore the department
Ready to become a designer?
Apply to Jackson State University, or reach out to the Department of Art to learn more about the Graphic Design concentration.
Department of Art
Department of Art and Theatre · College of Liberal Arts, Jackson State University.
1400 John R. Lynch St.
Jackson, MS 39217